Consecutive terms ordered in crime spree

A Super Bowl Sunday crime spree has netted a man consecutive prison terms of five years to life on one felony count and one to 15 years on another.

Third District Judge David Young handed down the sentences on guilty pleas to kidnapping and robbery.Rosario A. Alvarado, 23, who was known to police as "El Diablo" and who was termed a "terrorist" by one of the victims, pleaded with Young for concurrent sentences, saying that the judge should take into account that Alvarado has children.

But Young sternly reminded Alvarado that the young children of the crime victim had been traumatized by Alvarado's actions. "You have little children who were terrorized by your conduct and you stand before me and plead for your children," Young said. "These people have been hurt severely."

Young also said he will recommend that Alvarado, an illegal immigrant, be deported to Mexico when he is released from prison.

Alvarado and two other men broke into the Kearns home of Sergio Rocha on Jan. 25 while the family was watching the Super Bowl. Rocha was shot in the leg, the men beat Rocha's brother, Cesar, and ordered Sergio Rocha's wife, Maria, and their children into another room, threatening them.

The children were thrown to the floor during the incident.

The men forced Rocha, who was wounded, to drive them in his truck to two other homes, eventually going to the home of Rocha's employers, Jill and David Row. The men shouted to be let in, but the Rows called the police.

Sergio Rocha told the judge that the event was traumatic for his entire family. Rocha, who used a cane and limped up to the podium to address Young, said he has lost his house because of the crime, his children are getting psychological help, and he and his wife are often fearful.

Rocha's former employers said they, too, are frightened.

Jill Row said they have moved to a different house, taken different employment and still worry about being killed since, she said, they received threats from Alvarado from jail and from Alvarado's wife.

Jill Row said Rocha's daughter, who is of Mexican descent, has suffered so much mental anguish that she doesn't want to be around other Mexicans.

Alvarado pleaded guilty in April to a second-degree felony charge of kidnapping and first-degree felony count of aggravated robbery as part of a plea agreement.

He originally had been charged with three first-degree felony counts of aggravated kidnapping, one first-degree felony charge of aggravated burglary and second-degree counts of theft and aggravated assault.